If you’re playing through Naughty Dog’s brutal sequel for the first time, or maybe you’re just catching up because of the HBO show, there is one question that usually hits a fever pitch around the three-quarter mark of the story. Does Tommy die in The Last of Us 2? It’s a fair question. Honestly, the game goes out of its way to make you think he’s a goner. Multiple times.
The Last of Us Part II is a miserable experience in the best way possible. It’s a game about the cycle of violence, and Tommy Miller—Joel’s younger, arguably more idealistic brother—gets caught right in the gears of that machine. By the time the credits roll, he is a fundamentally changed man. But to give you the short answer right away: No, Tommy does not die. He survives the events of the game, though "surviving" is a bit of a strong word for the state he ends up in.
The Sequence at the Marina: Tommy's Near-Death Experience
The moment everyone remembers is the confrontation at the Seattle marina. This is where things get incredibly dicey. Tommy has been hunting Abby’s group across Seattle with a sniper rifle, showing off those sharpshooting skills we only caught glimpses of in the first game. He’s efficient. He’s terrifying.
Then comes the showdown.
Abby manages to corner him. During a frantic struggle, Lev—the Seraphite defector traveling with Abby—shoots Tommy in the leg with an arrow. It’s a nasty hit, but it’s the follow-up that made players drop their controllers in shock. Abby gets the upper hand and shoots Tommy point-blank in the head. Specifically, the bullet grazes his skull and enters near his eye. He falls into the water. In any other game, that’s a death sentence. In any other story, you’d be looking for a grave.
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For a significant portion of the game’s final act, the narrative shifts, and we don’t see Tommy. The game lets that wound fester in the player's mind. You’re left to assume that Joel’s brother is gone, another victim of the hunt for Abby Anderson.
Survival Has a Heavy Price
It isn't until the story jumps forward to the farm in Jackson that we see the truth. Tommy is alive. But he isn't the same man who taught Ellie how to use a rifle back in the Wyoming woods.
The bullet didn't kill him, but it left him with permanent, life-altering injuries. He’s blind in one eye—the eye that was hit at the marina. He walks with a heavy limp, his leg clearly never having healed right from the arrow wound and the subsequent trauma. The physical toll is obvious, but the psychological toll is much worse.
Tommy is bitter.
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He’s consumed by the fact that Abby is still out there. When he visits Ellie and Dina at their farm, he isn't there for a friendly social call. He’s there to guilt-trip Ellie into finishing what they started. It’s a hard scene to watch. Seeing Tommy, who was always the "level-headed" brother compared to Joel’s cynicism, turn into a shell of himself is one of the game's quietest tragedies. He’s lost his marriage to Maria, he’s lost his physical capabilities, and he’s lost his peace of mind.
Why People Think He Died
There’s a lot of confusion online about this, mostly because of how the scenes are framed. Naughty Dog loves a good "fake out."
- The Marina Shot: As mentioned, a headshot at that range usually means "Game Over." The camera lingers on his body falling into the ocean. It feels final.
- The Time Jump: The game moves to the farm sequence without immediately explaining how Tommy got back to Jackson. We have to fill in the blanks ourselves—presumably, Ellie and Dina managed to patch him up and trek across the states, a feat that seems almost impossible given their collective injuries.
- The Loss of Character: Some fans argue that while Tommy survived physically, the "Tommy" we knew died in Seattle. His obsession with revenge destroyed his relationship with Maria and turned him into someone Joel probably wouldn't recognize.
The Future of Tommy Miller in The Last of Us Part 3
Since Tommy is still breathing, he’s a major loose end for a potential third game. Neil Druckmann has mentioned in interviews and on the Last of Us podcast that a script outline for a third entry exists, though it’s not in active production yet.
If Part 3 happens, Tommy’s role is likely to be one of two things. Either he becomes a cautionary tale for Ellie—a mirror showing her what happens when you never let go—or he finds some path to redemption. Right now, he’s a man who has lost everything to a grudge.
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It’s also worth noting that the HBO series might handle this differently. We’ve already seen the show expand on Tommy’s life in Jackson, giving him a wife who is pregnant, which adds even more stakes to his survival than we saw in the game. If the show follows the game's plot, that "death" scene at the marina is going to be a massive "Red Wedding" style moment for TV audiences.
Actionable Insights for Players
If you are currently playing through the game and feeling the weight of the story, keep these points in mind regarding Tommy:
- Pay attention to the notes: Throughout Seattle, you can find traces of Tommy's path. He was much more effective and brutal than Ellie realized.
- Don't rush the Farm scene: The dialogue between Tommy and Ellie at the farmhouse is some of the most important character work in the franchise. It explains why Ellie eventually leaves for Santa Barbara.
- Watch the eyes: Notice the character model for Tommy in the final act. The scarring and the clouded eye are incredibly detailed, showing the physical reality of a "non-fatal" headshot in this universe.
- Check the Journal: Ellie’s journal entries provide more context on their journey back to Jackson, which helps bridge the gap between the marina and the farm.
Tommy’s survival is a testament to the Miller family's sheer stubbornness. They are hard people to kill. But as The Last of Us Part II proves time and again, surviving isn't the same thing as winning. Tommy Miller is still alive, but he is a living ghost, haunted by a brother he couldn't save and a revenge he couldn't complete.